Sharp differences over the choice of candidate for the Rajya Sabha election came to the fore at the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State working committee meeting here on Friday, forcing the leadership to entrust party State unit president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal to take a final decision on the contentious issue.
“The candidate will be announced by Mr. Shihab Thangal in Malappuram on Saturday. There is no dispute in the party over the issue,” said IUML State treasurer and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, emerging out of the meeting. He refused to take any questions from journalists who gathered at the League House.
Two contendersHowever, it is learnt that the meeting failed to reach a consensus on two contenders — party State unit general secretary K.P.A. Majeed and State unit secretary and businessman P.V. Abdul Wahab.
Incidentally, both of them are supported by two factions, one led by party all-India general secretary E. Ahamed, MP, and the other by Mr. Kunhalikutty. This had resulted in an intense lobbying in the party for more than a month.
Ahamed’s backingMr. Wahab, a former Rajya Sabha MP, is backed by Mr. Ahamed, while Mr. Majeed is supported by Mr. Kunhalikutty. The working committee meeting began at 3.30 p.m. and concluded at 4.15 p.m. This was followed by a meeting of the six-member high power committee lasting 30 minutes.
Facebook postMeanwhile, a Facebook post of Syed Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal, son of former State unit president Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal, created a flutter in party circles.
He was compelled to delete the post after television channels began flashing the contents. Expressing his displeasure, the Facebook post said: “The Rajya Sabha seat should be offered to a disciplined and service-minded political leader. This is the mood of the rank and file. The party had to pay a heavy price for fielding a businessman as candidate earlier. That decision had pained my father a lot. I hope a similar decision is not repeated.”
Mr. Munavvar Ali, known to be close to Mr. Kunhalikutty, did not hold any official position in the party.
The Facebook could be seen as part of lobbying against the candidature of Mr. Wahab.
Previous nominationInterestingly Mr. Wahab was previously nominated to the Rajya Sabha after Mr. Kunhalikutty supported him. Now both of them seemed to have parted ways.
